Why Do Dogs Let Out That Long, Disappointed Sigh?

A dog shelter rescued my little terrier breed, Gabriela, from an animal sanctuary when she was about 10 weeks old. She lived with about 40 other dogs and the rescue told me the stench was so toxic the owners lived in their cars. To feed the dogs, they threw kibble out of a window and placed bowls of water in it.

We adopted Gabi almost six weeks after her rescue. Four years later, his dietary standards have changed dramatically. The dog who once searched for kibble on the ground will now refuse to eat if I fail to properly supplement his meal with chicken or beef. She’ll sit sideways, ears down, eyes wide, and then she’ll sigh – like she’s disappointed in me.

So, do dogs sigh because they’re disappointed? Animal behavior researchers have discovered that this dramatic sigh has several meanings.

Learn more: Why do small dogs live longer than large dogs?

Associate a dog’s sighs with emotion

When Gabi sighs in front of her plate of croquettes, she is indeed expressing an emotion.

“Dogs sometimes sigh when they don’t get something they want—sometimes people read that as a disappointment,” says Mary R. Burch, an applied animal behaviorist and director of family dogs at the American Kennel Club.

The problem is that sighing can also be linked to other emotions. Just because a dog sighs doesn’t mean he’s disappointed. Researchers have found that there are several reasons why dogs sigh.

In a study carried out in 2024 in the Journal of Veterinary BehaviorThe researchers conducted a literature review of observational studies on dog emotions. They identified nine themes, such as body posture, vocalization behavior and stress-related behaviors.

The confusing thing is that sighing is a behavior that appears in more than one theme.

Multiple meanings arising from the same behavior are one reason why studying animal emotions has been a challenge for researchers, according to a study from Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Researchers are limited to observational techniques because their study subjects cannot confirm their feelings. Dogs can’t use a three-point scale to say they agree, somewhat agree, or disagree with choosing grated cheese as a topping.

Why do dogs sigh?

When Gabi sighs because I failed to prepare her kibble correctly, she may be expressing disappointment, but she may be sighing to get my attention and let me know that I need to see what else is in the fridge.

“Humans often sigh in exasperation,” says Burch. “For both dogs and people, sighing can be a sign of boredom or frustration. Sighing can be a way to relieve stress. Some dogs sigh to get your attention.”

Aside from the dish of kibble, sighing can have other meanings for dogs. “Sometimes sighing is related to being relaxed, happy, or finally content,” says Burch.

A dog, for example, might be waiting to finally get into his bed. After a few circles and maybe a little digging to get the cushion just right, they might fall into bed and let out a sigh.

However, there are times when the sighs really don’t make sense. Burch says sighing for humans and dogs can be involuntary. Or it may simply be part of the breathing process in which air is taken in through the nose but released through the mouth.

“Sometimes sighing is a neutral behavior, like when the dog changes position. You may have seen a dog jump on the couch, lay down, and sigh,” says Burch.

Can sighing be a sign that something is wrong?

Most of the time, sighing is behavioral and not related to a medical problem.

“But if it happens repeatedly and you think the sighing may be related to the dog trying to fill his lungs with air…you should take your dog to the vet,” says Burch.

Repeated sighs may be panting, which could indicate a breathing problem or anxiety, says Burch.

But if it’s just an occasional sigh near the kibble dish, the problem can most likely be solved with a better mattress topper.

Learn more: Do dogs cry over other dogs?

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